Tying machine



Jan. 2, 1945. B. H. BUNN 2,366,235

i l TYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 194:2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1945. B. H. BUNN 2,366,235

TYING MACHINE .(ggma 51173724 B. H. BUNN TYING MACHINE Jan. 2, 1945.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. l0, 1942 the tables, `and thus interfering with the such purpose. T i x On completion of the twine wrapping, the terminal reaches of the wrapped twine arebrought' Patented Jan. 24, 1945 I UNITED i STATE TYING MACHINE `Benjamin MH. Bunn,; Cliicagoplll.,V assigner to f T T T B. H. `Bunn Company," Chicago, Ill .4ra` `corpora.-

tion of Illinois `Application February I, T T T TT `solailms- ,milice-31") My present invention relates `to 'package tying machines and contemplates more specifically the wrapping with twineand tying of roll-likepack- T T ages, which may be meat products,`with or Without a wrapping of terial."

paper or other` sheet-like ma- T 1 Inthe past I havedeveloped a number of packl age tying machines, forTexample, that disclosed 1926. Since a` number of thel features of'the in my Patent No.` 1,606,290, issued `November `9,

vpresent invention are similar toythose `of the con? T j structionof that patent, it will,befassurned` in order tosimplify the present specification,` that the reader is familiar withthe construction and operation of the machine described in the abovementioned patent, T TT T Y Attempts to use machines such as" those-{defscribed in my above-mentioned patent forthe tying lof roll-like packages, such as rolled veal roasts,` and other.`meat products, havenot beencgo fully satisfactory due to the fact'thatsuch meat products `usually have an external` layer of fat whichhas a tendency to rub oft` and adhere to the package supporting tables,` accumulating on lation of the products being tied.

An object of the present inventi-on is to avoid this objection. To this end If heat the package supporting surfaces so as tomelt a portion of .T

the fat contained in such products `for thepurklar cross section.

c Unlike a tying machine lfor rectangular pack-T ages Where the location of` Tthe `knotteris but slightly displaced frointhe stop onthetable T which engages the edgeof'the packageyfor roll-` `T like* packagesof generally round or oval crossreaches of thetwine wraps" employed in' wrapping a package at correct angles, ias well asat correct position, for engagementby "the knetter` beak, T TT even when'tyingpackages 'ofcircular or irregu;

section," the knetter is best located directly below the line of tangential contact with "the table. `This line of supporting contact will come` substantially below the center of grayty'of` the' packfage, whereas in awide rectangular package `the `center of `gravity is `displaced a'considerble'dis tance toi the side, `and tends 4to create an `off-center torque stress upon the'table-especially the iioating or suspended island table.`

By my inve`ntion,`V I arnfable` toemploy rather `narrow package supporting tables where `the; ma` 4chine is: especially designed for thewrapping of `such roll-like` packages.--Also`, since T all such "packages` normallywillrbe positioned to rest on thesamen'arrow supporting are'a over the knotter, the centers ofvarious sized packages 1will be` flocatedin `1substantiallyy thesame Vertical plane pose loi `self-lubrication, and tomaintain `the package support ,together forengagement by the knotting beak of the tying mechanism, asin my abovelmentioned patent.

knotting mechanism.T However, Where the packat a controlled temperature for l above this narrow "supporting'farea `I` prefer; T T therefore, to locate the twine-arm` with its axis of rotation"substantially` directly over the knetter, since this arrangement provides 'for an approximately equalfswing ofthe twine Varm on both sides" of "this plane :during the rotation of the twine arm, andthus permitsthe useol `a, twine arm of minimum A radial throw for a predetermined maximum @diameter of package to "be A stop is customarily provided on the table, to be engagedby a bottom edgeof an or-l T jdinaryrectangular package, whereby to position "1 the edge of the package in definite relation to the l age lacks adenite bottom edge to engage `the T generally circular cross-section, the `two terminal reaches of the twine` wraps sometimes` are `not `positioned toextend atfdirect angles fron'rthe twine-engaging portion of the draw slide", which 'draws the twineinto knotter-engaging "position. The result is that` one or the other of sch reaches of twine is not yproperly engaged T'by the` knotter beak forperformance of` the knotting` T ,l VA further objectgof myinvention is to maken 'tying `machine with the `drawfslide or twine slide ffarranged definitely to maintain the `terminal vpackage stop, as is the case with ag. package of e Since thetable is narrow, it does not have tot `be, supported,` against,` strong `ofi-center torque stresses; "This is due `to tl'lefact that packages supported on the table :for `wrapping will Tbe positioned almost directly below the pivotal support choring `meansis` to employ the `movement of the reachof twine-"as it passes aroundla package l"during awrapping operation," to operatea twine` OFFICE p machine embodying my present invention, a rolllike package being indicated in position thereon in dotted lines;

F'ig. 2 isan enlarged-fragmentary lsection on the offset planes of the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the has toothed driving connection with a mutilated offset planes of the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the plane of the line 4-4 of l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective rview showing parts of a twine trap as they would appear in operating position, a, twine catcher and a reach of twine being shown in positionto operate the twine trap;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit employed in a heating arrangement for the package supporting surfaces ofthe machine; and Fig. 7lis an enlarged detail perspective view of a 4draw slide with double twine-engaging portions to hold vthe end reaches of a wrap of twine in proper position for engagement by a knotter beak. Referring to the drawings in detail, `a frame I I comprises end frame members'lz and I3con Hnected by front andrear members I4 and I5.

The frame is supported on swiveled casters I6. A drive motor I1 is mounted upon a supporting plate I8 carried by the frame which also supports a twine bucket I9.

The drive motor has i driving connection through a V-belt rwith a clutch pulley 23 which clutch is in engaged position.'v AThe clutch plate,

tion. Depressing the foot pedal moves the bell crank lever 39 pivotally in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in Fig. 2, thereby withdrawing the slip link and releasing the clutch lever. This release of the clutch lever permits the coil spring to move the clutch to engaged position. Upon releasing the `foot pedal the clutch lever `28 will be returned to clutchreleasing position through'the action of the @am 33 on the'slip link 35 upon the completion of one revolution of the cam block 34.

- A pinion 44 is keyed to the clutch shaft 24 and gear 45, keyed to the same shaft as the cam block d34.' rIheright-hand half of the mutilated gear, y-as' illstratedv in Fig 1, is fully toothed throughsprocket'lllgsecured coaxially therewith, and a drivechain 48 is passed around the drive sprocket 41'and a driven sprocket 49, which is keyed to the hub of` a twine arm support 53. The' twine arm .support hasa hollow hub portion 5I) through '.which'thetwine 54 is adapted to be passed, the hub having a lateral opening 55 adjacent a twine arm 'supporting portion 56. A crank-like twine i' arm. 51 is mounted in the twine arm supporting portion 55.

has a throw-fout collar 21 which engaged'by the' forked lower end'of .afclutch operating lever 28,

. pivoted on a support .member 29 carried bythe vframe II (see Fig. 2).-

A coil spring 30 normally holds the clutch in engaged position, the clutch being moved toreleased positionby a cam 33, mounted on the side of the main cam block 34. The cam 33 is adapted to engage a slip link 35, whichnormally is positioned between the cam 33' and a roller`.36 carried cam 33, at the completion of each complete revolution of the cam block, engages the slip llink 35, Aforcing it laterally .against the roller 36. This V on the top of the clutch operating lever 28. The

having the other end thereof pivoted to the slip link 35. A e011 spring 4u is held in tension between an/ arm of the bell crank lever and a pin 43 mounted on thevframe, normally'to hold the bell crank lever in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

This action of the vbellcrank lever under the terrsion` of the coil spring moves the slip link into position between the roller 36 onthe upper end of the clutch lever and the Asidecam 33, to move the clutch operating lever to its clutch-releasing posil A twine guide 58 is provided on the twine arm, lthe outer end of the twine arm having an axially extending opening 59 therein, with a lateral opening SB through which the 'twine maybe threaded. The end of the twine arm is positioned to rotate inthe same vertical fore-and-aft plane as that of a twinecatcher 63, which is adapted to seize and retain areachof twine during 'a wrapping operation, as brought out in my above-mentioned Pat- Aent No'..1,606,290.

An island table `6I is mounted on a support member 64,which is journaled on the outer end ofthe twine arni hub coaxially therewith. An island `table support plate is secured. to the `.inner or right-hand face of the journaled support member, as it appears in Fig. 1. The plate '6'5'is bent at right angles, as at 65, at the desired level of the island table top, and extends horizontally to a point near the plane of the twine wrap.

An island table top member 61 of sheet metal is ysecured to the top of the horizontal portion ofthe bent plate 65,V and a pair 0f support rods 58, which preferably are rectangular in cross-section, are

bent to the shape illustrated in Fig. 1, and are v secured inposition to support and reinforce the -i'sland table top.

A star-wheel supporting bracket 69 is connected 'to the underside of lthe island table to extend downwardlyl therefrom, the lower end of the bracket terminatingin a point 10 and extending prevent proper completion of the twine wrap.

A light coilspring 'l5 may be mounted to en- Circle .an extendingportion of the pivot pin 14, `and'isV held in compression between the bracket 6 9 'a washer 'lfcarried by the extending por'- `tion ofthepivot'pin;` to exert a resilientaxal vforce onthe pivotpinwhich holds it in frictional `engagement withthe bracket, andthus prevents -any tendency toward` a free` spinning movement of `the star wheel. This arrangement insures that the star wheel will be in proper position to receive each successive reach of the twine as it is carried around by the twine arm.

A slotted bracket 'I'I is mountedwith the slot `thereof vertical,` and adapted to receive the- .points of the star; wheel as it rotates.` The bracket is mounted onthe frame and projects toward the star wheel a distance which brings its vertical-face slightly` beyond the plane of the twine Wrap sothat the twine will be cammed over the t slanting lower end of the bracket, and will move slidablyupwardly along the `face of the bracket ing' the` oppositeiside or tine" une. The second heater82"isconnected in parallel with the rstf In. order to heat the island table 6| without` the necessity of complicatedtand costly wiring,

which would Ibe necessaryto carry electrical cur-` rentwto a contact heater of the type illustrated `at 8| and 82through the pivotal mounting ofthe island table, I. employ a radiant heater 94 mounted below the island table, and positioned to direct radiant heat rays against the under surface of the table;

The radiant heater comprises a pair of straplike mounting `brackets 95` and` 96 supported on the front framemember I4, and carrying a boxlike sheetl metal support member 96. A tubular housing 9I,of` asbestos or other suitable heat inas the twine is swung upwardly from the posi- `tion illustrated `in `Fig; 2 during a wrapping operation. The bracket ispositonedso that the vertical slotted portion thereof will extend to less thanthe full depth `of the points of the star wheel to avoid any shearingaction on the twine between the star wheel and the slotted guide.

The` angles between successive teeth or points ofthe star are such that each` succeeding point will enter the slotted guide-way before the preceding point leaves it,l so that atleast one point of the star always is in position within the slotted guidewayw` Thisanchors the island table to `the frame against pivotal movement.

A Irlxed table 'I8 is :supported on the frame I I, and extends outwardly beyond thefrarne, be"-` ing supported bybracketst'IQ,` the lower` ends of which are secured tothe `end `frame I3.

An outlet box 80 is secured to the underside of the xed table, and within this outlet box, asillustrated in Fig. 4, a contactheater 8| ris applied to the underside of the table. A second contact heater 82 maybe `applied to the underside of the xed table exteriorly of the outletbox.

. These` contact heatersj are `.mounted directly beneath the desired longitudinal centerline of a` roll-like package 83', indicated `indotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. YrIhe position of the `package on the `table is determined by `a raised abutment 84':

sulating materiaLhas an elongated opening 98 in its top, and a pair of radiant heating elements 99 and |00 `are mounted within this housing. A covering of wire screen is mounted over the opening 98` to prevent undesired foreign particles from falling into the heater.

The heating units in `this radiant` heater `thus are connected in parallel with the contact heaters 8| and82, so that all ofthe `heaters are controlled by the same thermostat 84. l

A draw slide |06, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,

andin-detail` inFig. "7, is mounted in the frame Il `to be slidable substantially parallelto the 'plane of rotation offa wrap of twine during `a wrapping operation. l I

Synchronization of theslidable movement of the draw slide |08` `with theremainder of the wrapping and tying mechanism, is accomplished by a bell-crank lever I 0'I which is"pivoted on the frame, and hasa roller |08 at the outer end of a laterally extending arm |09 thereof, .the other or vertical arm ||0 terminating in a bead-like head portion I3 whichis mounted in a notch ||4 ina projection ||5=0n the underside of the twineslide. l f l AThe roller |08 is held in rolling contact with l a peripheral cam face I6 on the cam block 34 t by a coil spring II'I connected from a pin I8 on tric power line. `'Iheother contact member of the `thermostatic. switch is connected `by a conductor 89 to oneside of the heater 8|. A branch conductor 90 is connected from the conductor 88 to one side of the second heater 82.

1 :A conductor 93 of the electric power line is connected to the second terminal of the heater 8|, while a' branch conductor 92 from this line is `connected to `the second terminal of the heater 82.` l l l IThus, assuming thatthe `line conductors 81 and 93 are `connected `to a` suitable. source of elec- ,trical energy, when thethermostatic switch conrtacts 88 and 9| are closed the circuit to the heaters 8| and 82 will 4be completed.

The circuit to the :heater 8| t will be from the lineconductor 81, through switch 86, theclosed switch elements 88 `and 9|,,the conductor 89the heater 8| and thence to conductor 93, constitut` the twine slide t`o the frame |I, and-urging the twine slide to its normal or extreme left'ward position (see Fig. 7). The cam is shaped to operate the bell-crank lever |01 to"move the draw slide from its extreme leftward position toward the rightto the position illustrated in solid lines in Fig. '7 after the i'lnalwrap` of twine has been t carried around the package Isbeingwrapped, and has been gripped by the `twine catcher. This movement to the right of the draw slide carries dinal` reciprocal movement of: the draw slide. l

It will be noted that the slot `|23 is straight throughout its entire length, while the slot |24 has an offset portion |21 at its extreme right end as shownin Fig. 7. 1

The function and operationof this offset end `portion of the slot is not new, but is described in detail in my Patent No. 2,182,959, issued December 12, 1939.1t will beldescribed briefly herein however,- in order tojavoid the necessity The radiant heater elements 99 .and |00 preferably havefone terminal of each `connected together as" by a conductor |05, andare connected, byconductors |03 and' |04, to the conductors `89 and 93 respectively.`

`of referring to that patent for its understanding.

The draw slide |06 is generally hook shaped, and the short, twine-engaging portion |28 of the hook is mounted to lie directly over the twine catcher 63 when the studs |25 and |20 are in the straight portions of theslotted openings |23 and |24. In this position of the draw slide, the twine catcher could ,not engage 'a reach of twine as it was swung around by the rotation of the twine arm, since the slide, overlying the twine catcher, acts as a cam to move the reach of twine laterally beyond the twine catcher.

Therefore, during the portion 'of the cycle wherein the twine is to be engaged by the twine catcher, the roller |08 is on a'low point of the peripheral cam face H6, which .permits the spring l I'| to pull the draw slide |06 to its extreme leftward position yfrom that illustrated in Fig. 7. With the draw slide in its extreme leftward position,the studs |25 and |26 will lie at the extreme right-hand ends `of their respective slots, which tends to pivot the slide clockwise about the stud |25. This action swings the left-hand end of the slide to the rightsufciently to uncover the twine catcher y|53 so that it will be engaged by the reach of twine as it is swung down by the twine arm during a wrapping operation.

The right-hand end `of the short, or twineengaging portion |28of the hook-shaped draw slide is divided horizontally into two `parts |29 and |30 which comprise superposed twine engaging and positioning elements. The twine engaging elements |29 and |30 are separated from each other vertically sufficiently `to receive a knotter beak |33 therebetween, and to permit the knotter beak to rotate ina vcounterclockwise direction therebetween as illustrated in Fig. 7, to wrap the two strands of twine ||9 and |20 about itself as itperforms the knotting operation.

This double twine engaging draw slide.is especially useful intying packages Vof roll-type, or of generally circular section. It also has solved a problemwhich for years has caused occasional mis-functions in the tying of other or rectangular types of packages. For instance, in cases where a package being tied was misplaced from its proper position so that one Vor the other of said reaches of twine might be disposed at an langle which brought it beyond the compass of the knotter beak in itsA rotation.

The present double-draw slide positively positions both terminal reaches of twine at a correct angle, and in a proper position to be engaged by the knetter beak regardless of any tendency they otherwise might have to assume angles less than that required for such proper engagement.

While I havefillustrated Ja preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do rnot wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A machine for wrapping with twine and tying roll-like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a crank-like twine armpivoted in the frame, an island table suspended vbeneath the pivotal axis of the twine arm, said table being elongated in the direction of the twine arm axis, a fixed table mounted'laterally adjacent to 'and spaced from the island table, jan abutment on the fixed table laterally adjacent to a vertical plane through the twine arm axis to vposition a roll-like package having its/side contacting the abutment `and with its central axis substantially parallel to and in vertical alignment with the twine arm axis, Aand a knetter mounted substantially directly below the twine arm axis, to accommodater a package of maximum size and weight, with a minimum torque on the island table, for a predetermined throw of the twine arm.

2. A machine for wrapping with twine and tying roll-like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a crank-like twine arm pivoted in the frame, an island table suspended beneath the pivotal axis of the twine arm, said table being elongated in the direction of the twine armaxis, a fixed table mounted laterally adjacent to and spaced from the island table, a laterally sloping labutment having a face thereof disposed at an acute angle to the fixed table top to position a roll-like package, supported on the fixed table and in contact with the abutment, with the axis of the package in substantial vertical alignment with the axis of the twine arm, and a knotter mounted substantially directly below the twine arm axis, to accommodate a roll-like package of maximum size and weight, with a minimum torque on the island table, for a predetermined throw of the twine arm.

3. In a machine for wrapping roll-like packages, said machine comprising a frame, a cranklike twine arm pivoted thereon, and a narrow island table pivotally suspended from the twine arm; a star wheel twine trap member pivoted below the island table to `rotate in a vertical plane parallel to the pivotal axis of the twine arm, a slotted member mounted to receive sucone is released, thereby to anchor the island table against pivotal movement, the slotted member being positioned to pass a reach twine over the face thereof against a point of the star wheel dur ing a wrapping rotation of the twine arm pivotally to move the star wheel and pass the reach of twine therethrough.

4. In a machine for wrapping roll-like packages, vsaid machine comprising a frame, a cranklike twine arm pivoted thereon, and a narrow island table pivotally suspended from the twine arm; a wheel pivotedbelow the island table to rotate in a vertical planeperpendicular to that described by the' end of the twine arm during a rotation thereof, a plurality of radially projecting arms on said wheel, a guide member mounted on the frame and having anchoring engagement with at least one of the arms on said wheel, the guide member being mounted in the path of the twine during a wrapping operation to guide the twine against an arm of said wheel to move said arm past the guide member to carry the twine beyond 'the guide member, the arms being angu- Y plane of rotation of a wrap of"twine during a Wrapping operation, an anchoring member i mounted on the` frame and having intersecting anchoring engagement' withat least one point oi the star Wheel, the star wheel and the anchoring member being mounted with their` line of intersection substantially in the path of rotation .oi

a reach of twine as it is` carried around a package, whereby the twine engages the point of the i star in anchoring engagement withvthe anchoring member, thereby rotatively moving the star wheel to move said point out of engagement with theanchoring member, and to move the next succeeding point `into engagementwwith the anchoring member, the twine passing through the twine trap thus formed while maintaining the anchoring engagement of the island table.

6. In a machine for wrapplng roll-like packn ages, said machine comprising a frame, a cranklike twine arm `pivoted thereon,iand a narrow island table pivotally suspended from the twine i arm; a twine trap comprising a bracket secured ber, the twinepassing through the twine trap thus formed while maintaining the anchoring en-` gagement of the island table.

7. In a package tying machine having a" frame, a package: support mounted thereon," means for carryingl a reach of twine around a` package on the package support,` a twine catcherl mounted to catch and hold an initial and a terminal reach of `a wrap of twine, and a knotter` mounted on the frame and oiset horizontally from the twine catcher; a cyclically operated draw slide havinga pair of vertically oiset twine engaging portions mounted` beyondthe twine catcher from the knotter, and adapted to move y towardthe knetter at a predetermined point in a wrapping cycle to carry a reachof twinetof Ward and beyond the knotter beak, the twine envertically from each other to receive the knotter` `beak therebetween.

to the under side of the island table, the lower end 0f the bracket terminating in a point, a star wheel pivoted on the bracket to rotate in a plane H intersecting the plane described by the rotation of a Wrap of twine during a wrapping operation, a cam face extending from the point on the lower end of the bracket toward the plane of the twine l 130 `plane of the twine wrap, an anchoring member mounted on the frame and `having anchoring engagement with at least one point of the star l wrap to cam a reach of` twine toward said Wheel, the star wheel and the anchoring member `being mounted with their line of intersection substantially in the path of Arotation ofv a reach of twine as it is carredaround apackage, whereby the twine engages the point of the star in anchoring engagement with the anchoring member, thereby rotatively moving the star wheel to move said point out| ofengagementwith Vthe anchorl ing member, and to move the next succeeding point into engagement withthe anchoring memgaging portions of the draw slidebeing separated `8; In a package tying machine having` a frame` a package support mounted thereon, means for carrying a reach of `twine around a package on the package support, a twine catcher mounted to catch and hold an initial and a terminal reach of a wrap ofztwine, and a knotter mounted on` the frameand offset horizontally from the twine catcher; a cam-controlled draw slide mounted for horizontal reciprocating motion on the frame,`a first twine engaging draw slide` l element normally positioned beyond the twine catcher` and adapted to move toward and. beneath the knotter `beak to carry a` reach of twine extending upwardly from` the twine catcher toward n n and beyond the knetter and a second twine engaging draw slide element spaced upwardly from i knotter. l

therst twine engaging element and 'adapted V to move toward land above the knotter beak siy y multaneously with the first to hold a reach of n twine between the rst and second twine engaging elements inproper position for seizure by the BENJAMIN H. Bunn.` 

